H.— 9

1943 NEW ZEALAND

SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT REPORT FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1943

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the Provisions of the Social Security Act, 1938

In so far as the Social Security Legislation is concerned, this report deals with Part II of the Act only. Reports on the operation of Part 111 and Part IV of the Act will be submitted by the Health and Land and Income Tax Departments respectively.

REPORT

To the Hon. the Minister of Social Security. Sir, — Social Security Department, Wellington, 17th May, 1943. I have the honour to submit for the information of Parliament the fourth annual report of the Social Security Department, for the period Ist April, 1942, to 31st March, 1943. NEW LEGISLATION The following legislation became operative during the year : — (a) The Social Security and Pensions Emergency Regulations 1942, by which age, widows', orphans', invalids', miners', and Maori War benefits were increased by a bonus of 5 per cent, on the maximum rate from Ist May, 1942. Recipients of family benefits were granted a bonus of 2s. a week for each child and the allowable income was raised from £5 to £5 ss. The personal earnings exemption of totally blind applicants for invalids' benefit was increased from £143 to £156 a year: (b) The Social Security and Pensions Emergency Regulations 1942, Amendment No. 1, authorized the payment of an additional sum not exceeding £26 a year to any age beneficiary in respect of pre-enlistment dependency on a son whose death is due to his employment as a member of the forces : (c) The Social Security (Employment of Age Beneficiaries) Emergency Regulations 1942 enabled recipients of age benefits to surrender their benefits on taking up full-time employment and entitled them to restoration of benefit in full when such employment ceased : (d) The War Injuries to Civilians Emergency Regulations 1942 made provision for pensions to civilians and their dependants in respect of death or disablement which is directly caused by enemy action or in the course of activities undertaken in combating the enemy or to repel an imagined attack by the enemy. BENEFITS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS The following figures show the number of applications for unemployment benefits dealt with during the years ended 31st March, 1942, and 31st March, 1943, respectively, and illustrate a further noticeable decline in unemployment in the Dominion :—

SICKNESS BENEFITS The following figures show the number of applications for sickness benefits dealt with during the years ended 31st March, 1942, and 31st March, 1913, respectively :—

1041-42. 1942-43. Males. | Females. Totals. Males. Females. Totals. Persons granted benefit .. .. .. 8,999 630 9,629 2,052 317 2 369 Number of applications declined .. .. 5,122 790 5,912 558 586 1 144 Number of persons whose applications were 344- 1,124 1,468 186 351 ' 537 declined, but who were granted emergency benefits on grounds of hardship _ Totals •• •• •• 14,465 2,544- 17,009 2,796 1,254 4,050

1941-42. 1942-43. Males. Females. Totals. Males. Females. Totals. Persons granted benefit .. .. .. 17,862 7,294 25,156 18,936 7,807 26 743 Number of applications declined .. .. 1,938 918 2,856 1,798 '805 2 603 Number of persons whose applications were 113 242 355 136 278 '414 declined, but who were granted emergency benefits on grounds of hardship Totals •• 19,913 8,454 28,367 20,870 8,890 29,760